NCERT 'Dancing Girl' Statue Controversy: Discrepancies in Textbook Representations

A controversy has erupted over the representation of the 'Dancing Girl' statue from Mohenjo-daro in NCERT textbooks. The Class 9 art education book presents a version that obscures anatomical details, while the Class 6 Social Science book shows it more accurately. Michel Danino, who led the textbook committee, argues that the depiction in the Class 9 book is based on an outdated view of nudity. This discrepancy raises questions about educational content and the portrayal of historical artifacts in Indian education.

By Sourabh Singh Jun 18, 2026, 13:06 IST

Controversy Surrounding the 'Dancing Girl' Statue

A debate has emerged regarding the 'Dancing Girl', a bronze sculpture from Mohenjo-daro, which is one of the most renowned archaeological finds from the Indus Valley Civilization. The contention arises from an illustration of this statue featured in NCERT's latest Class 9 art education textbook titled 'Madhurima'.

In the chapter on 'History of Arts', the representation of the upper part of the 'Dancing Girl' statue is altered, obscuring the anatomical features that are visible in the original piece. The shading applied in the image gives the impression that the statue's nude torso is clothed.

Inconsistency with Class 6 Representation

Interestingly, the same statue is illustrated in a manner that closely resembles its original form in NCERT's Class 6 Social Science textbook. This inconsistency has led to inquiries about the rationale behind the differing portrayals of the same historical artifact in two distinct educational resources.

Insights from Michel Danino

Michel Danino, who led the textbook development committee for NCERT's Class 6 Social Science books, addressed the controversy by revealing that he had been informed earlier that the image of the 'Dancing Girl' was deemed "not suitable for the age group".

In an interview, Danino expressed that his team disagreed with this assessment. He highlighted that they consulted Class 6 educators, who confirmed that there had never been any concerns regarding the depiction of the 'Dancing Girl'.

Danino further commented that viewing nudity as inappropriate reflects an outdated Victorian perspective. He pointed out that this stance appears contradictory, particularly when the objective is to decolonize the Indian education system.